The Biblical Polemic against Empires

Overview

Reading the Bible in light of its Ancient Near Eastern context can dramatically influence the way we interpret Scripture. The Biblical Polemic against Empires analyzes the Babylonian concept of deity, with particular orientation to theocracy. Professor Burns illustrates how three themes—deity, kingship, and city—govern the biblical polemic. These themes correspond to three principles: theocracy, correspondence, and interpenetration, which inform our understanding of the biblical arguments against idolatry.

By focusing on specific prophetic narratives, Burns argues that the biblical authors’ concern for truth is present on virtually every page in Scripture. By comparing competing texts in the Bible and Ancient Near Eastern materials, he highlights a direct attack on Babylonian principles. Special attention is devoted to prophetic narratives from protology to eschatology in the biblical revelation.

Burns demonstrates the importance of understanding Babylon’s theocratic culture and how it influenced Scripture’s authors.

The Logos Bible Software edition of The Biblical Polemic against Empires is designed to encourage and stimulate your study and understanding of the Bible in light of its cultural context. Scripture passages link directly to your English translations and to the original language texts, and important theological concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library.

Key Features

Presents a biblical perspective of idolatry

Cites biblical and Ancient Near Eastern sources

Contents

Introduction

The Scope

The Sources

The Method

The Cosmological Framework

The Principle of Theocracy

The Nature of Mesopotamian Theocracy

The Ideals of Mesopotamian Theocracy

The Realities of Mesopotamian Theocracy

The Principle of Correspondence

The Background of the Principle

The Definition of the Principle

The Application of the Principle

The Source of the Principle

The Realities behind the Principle

Biblical Contrasts to the Principle of Correspondence

The Contrast with Archetypes

The Contrast with the Character of the Religion

The Principle of Interpenetration

The Background of the Principle

The Definition of the Concept

The Application of the Principle

Product Details

Title: The Biblical Polemic Against Empires

Author: Lanier Burns

Publisher: Lexham Press

Publication Date: 2013

Pages: 563

About Lanier Burns

Lanier Burns is a research professor at Dallas Seminary with doctorates from the seminary and the University of Texas at Dallas. He has conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard and Oxford universities.